Women at War: Implications for Mental Health

Abstract

Few studies have investigated the impact of deployment stressors on the mental health outcomes of women deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This pilot study examined exposure to combat experiences and military sexual harassment in a sample of 54 active duty women and assessed the impact of these stressors on post-deployment posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and depressive symptoms. Within 3 months of returning from deployment to Iraq, participants completed (a) the Combat Experiences Scale and the Sexual Harassment Scale of the Deployment Risk and Resilience Inventory, (b) the Primary Care PTSD Screen, and (c) an abbreviated version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale. Approximately three quarters of the sample endorsed exposure to combat experiences, and more than half of the sample reported experiencing deployment-related sexual harassment, with nearly half of the sample endorsing both stressors. Approximately one third of the sample endorsed clinical or subclinical levels of PTSD symptoms, with 11% screening positive for PTSD and 9% to 14% of the sample endorsing depressive symptoms. Regression analyses revealed that combat experiences and sexual harassment jointly accounted for significant variance in post-deployment PTSD symptoms, whereas military sexual harassment was identified as the only unique significant predictor of these symptoms. Findings from the present study lend support to research demonstrating that military sexual trauma may be more highly associated with post-deployment PTSD symptoms than combat exposure among female service members and veterans.

Women in the National Guard: Experiences with children during deployment

“…For women who were single and or had young children, this planning stage seemed especially stressful. Other studies have found similar results; for example, Dutra et al (2012) found that single military women struggle more with the separation process than married women. An estimated 9% of the National Guard parents are single and many have young children (ODUS, 2012).…”

“…The pre-and postdeployment processes might be especially challenging for single mothers, a growing segment of today's National Guard and Reserves members (ODUS, 2012). Dutra et al (2012) reported that single military mothers who must leave their children with grandparents or other family members have a particularly difficult time with the separation. Kelley et al (1994) found that single mothers, who were anticipating deployment in the navy, reported more separation anxiety and less family cohesiveness, commitment, and support than did married mothers.…”

Military Mothers

“…As many as 74% of US Servicewomen deployed to Iraq had one or more combat experiences, such as firing a weapon at the enemy or receiving incoming fire (Dutra et al, 2010). The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in particular show how asymmetric warfare and the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and drone attacks have altered conceptions of the modern battlefield by blurring the definitions of 'the frontline'.…”

Evidence-Based Practices, Ethical Considerations, and Advocacy Efforts to Reduce Mental Health Stigma in Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

“…Dutra et al [20] found that lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (LGBT) soldiers have developed PTSD and other health issues (such as depression, anxiety) from harassment from fellow soldiers due to their sexual orientation. Data on convictions do not exist because hate crimes on military bases often go unreported [21].…”